Another trip …and a story to tellI haven’t for ages seen the sun, rise. But not today, I am up and ready by 5:45 in the morning. It’s a pleasant breeze. The driver is waiting for me @ the Kanteerava studio. So begins my Saturday.
The air is smelling so good, but not so near the big municipality “thothi” that I have to cross to go to the Home Minister’s house. It is 6:05, ok, so I am on time. Good. This time around, I only see FK’s mother come to ta-ta her off. Mallik is on time. No portfolio was assigned to him. He looks like a happy-go-lucky-charmer, not in Cisco now and put on weight. Now, we head to pick up Mr.President. We miss the road, a slow reverse and the right road. We reach Sudhakar’s house. Puja is also ready!! Sudhakar does one final check of his “batua”, he says ok, all credit cards in place. The crowd grows. External affairs minister calls asking if he has time to eat something before we pick him. He needs energy busters. Then we head off to pick THE common man and the Defence minister. Both are on time and ready to hop in. We come to Suresh’s stop. He has had his “breakfast”. Time check, pretty good. Then we come to Telecom and Communication minister’s stop. We thought he will be late as Som is not there to pull his ears [u know what I mean rite?]. But we are wrong he comes along with his friend “Veera”. The crowd welcomes them.Now we head to the office!! No not to work, to pick up the Foreign Minister. She stays close to the Cisco DC office. I am waiting for her. She was supposed to get the Snacks so. She comes with a big bag of “light” snacks and a good collection of CDs.
We are all set, but we are all hungry and sleepy too. People still warming up. Not much of talking. Neelu tries to do match the following, name to people. Not very successful, but ok, naam mein kya rakha hain, mujhe tho bus khane ki padi hain. We have a small intro of the 2 new comers. Neelu, not much of a story to tell, but Veera has one interesting story. He seems to be a one-sided lover boy. A patient passion of 6 years and a Salem bus stop. Suresh tells his mehandi-ki-kahaani, how he finally agreed to get married and the hurriedness in his engagement.Every one is very hungry, we do not play much, just listen to some songs, because it’s a “DVD” coach. We are on the look out for Saravana Bhavan. Good place, we eat oil-less dosas, courtesy Suresh and pongal and idly-vada, then shots of Coffee. Now we are in Tamil Nadu. Arul is very happy. Now starts the journey, we hit pretty good roads. We reach “HOGENKAL” at 1 pm finally.
Lot of bargaining, Tamil talks, and lot of issues. We finally hire 2 “teppa”, 5+6. We start our boat journey. The rower takes our boat close to the falls, water sprinkling on your face, amazingly refreshing. We row in between the rocks, move ahead. Fresh fish, fried in front of u. Madhu all excited. Then we move to the “beach”, there’s sufficient sand and place to have our lunch. Really spicy tomato rice and parathas. Suresh and Mallik all set for a “tel-malish”. Suresh is disappointed, no lady masseur!! But its ok, he has no issues. We, the 4 ladies, all so delicately walk into the waters, with the “hope” that we don’t get WET!!Walk through the river, walking against the current, its very good. The water level slowly raising. Madhu is running, wonder how she can do that. She does not find any crab.Arul is very happy swimming. And then, there he comes almost villainous. He had to take his revenge; he gives me a blow and ohhhh, me gasping for breath. Finally all wet. The tube light starter is wet.By now the massage is over and the oil-some twosome are ready to bathe. Arul still not satisfied, tries to push Lata, no success. He wants to play catch-catch, with his best friend. He is still angry with me; he hits the tube light again with a stone, “dhon”!!
We start packing up, to leave the beach. The boat drive now is very slow, the river looks serene. All are tired; but some people look “clean” and wet. We have 2-in-1 coffee and get back into the chariot. Arul hits back again, but this time its Madhu. He wants her window seat. All is fair in love and war. By some unfair means, he wins. Any way it’s only for 30 Kms, Arul gets down and Madhu gets back her throne. People are all tired and hungry. We have some general chat, Mallik agrees to treat us. We will soon decide the time and place. Neelu and Lata give generous tips to Veera, lest “gaadi choth jayegi”.We reach Bangalore, Madhu does not get coffee, and I don’t get water melon. But it was another memorable trip. Neelu gets off first, hope she liked the “gang” or is she having a headache? Then the crowd starts reducing, ta-ta Veera, Bye Mr.No-Issues, and so on. And finally the last stop, its 10:45, I reach home.
All is well that ends well, and I resign from the post of PM. Next elections will be held for the next trip. Jai-hind.
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